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Glareolidae - Coursers, Pratincoles

There are 18 species of birds in this family. They are found in warm places in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Coursers have long legs, short wings, and long bills that curve down at the end. They chase insects on the ground, and they live in arid regions.

The pratincoles have long, pointed wings; short legs and bills; and forked tails. They hunt for insects while they are in flight.

Species in this family include: the Egyptian plover, Temminck’s courser, the Madagascar pratincole, the three-banded courser, and the Indian courser.

  • The Indian courser is found in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Indian Courser
    (Cursorius coromandelicus)
    The Indian courser is found in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The cream-colored courser is found in dry regions of Norther Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Cream-Colored Courser
    (Cursorius cursor)
    The cream-colored courser is found in dry regions of Norther Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Burchell's courser is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Burchell's Courser
    (Cursorius rufus)
    Burchell's courser is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Somali courser is found in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Somali Courser
    (Cursorius somalensis)
    The Somali courser is found in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Temminck's Courser is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Temminck's Courser
    (Cursorius temminckii)
    Temminck's Courser is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The gray pratincole is found in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Gray Pratincole
    (Glareola cinerea)
    The gray pratincole is found in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The small pratincole is found in Bangladesh, Laos, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Small Pratincole
    (Glareola lactea)
    The small pratincole is found in Bangladesh, Laos, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Oriental pratincole is found in Asia and Australia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Oriental Pratincole
    (Glareola maldivarum)
    The Oriental pratincole is found in Asia and Australia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The black-winged pratincole is found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Black-Winged Pratincole
    (Glareola nordmanni)
    The black-winged pratincole is found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The rock pratincole is found in central Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Rock Pratincole
    (Glareola nuchalis)
    The rock pratincole is found in central Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The collared pratincole is found in Europe, Africa, and Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Collared Pratincole
    (Glareola pratincola)
    The collared pratincole is found in Europe, Africa, and Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Egyptian plover is found across central Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Egyptian Plover
    (Pluvianus aegyptius)
    The Egyptian plover is found across central Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The double-banded courser is found in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Double-Banded Courser
    (Rhinoptilus africanus)
    The double-banded courser is found in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The bronze-winged courser is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Bronze-Winged Courser
    (Rhinoptilus chalcopterus)
    The bronze-winged courser is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The thee-banded courser is found in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Three-Banded Courser
    (Rhinoptilus cinctus)
    The thee-banded courser is found in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Australian pratincole is found in Australia, Timor-Leste, Christmas Island, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Australian Pratincole
    (Stiltia isabella)
    The Australian pratincole is found in Australia, Timor-Leste, Christmas Island, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Did You Know?

Temminck's courser is one of the species found in this family.
Temminck's courser is one of the species found in this family.

World Status Key

Status and range is taken from IUCN Redlist

Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Not Enough Data

U.S. Status Key

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife

Threatened in US
Endangered in US
Introduced

NH Status Key

Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Threatened in NH
Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH (birds)

Location Key

Africa
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Europe
North/Central America
south america alt
South America

New Hampshire Species

No animals found.

Other Species Around the World

No animals found.

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